HB847 • 2026

Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY RIGHT TO VISIT ACT TO PREVENT ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THAT ARE LICENSED BY OR HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF NEED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FROM INSTITUTING ANY POLICY THAT LIMITS PATIENTS' ABILITIES TO BE VISITED BY DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS DURING ANY HOSPITALIZATION OR TREATMENT; TO ALLOW THE FACILITIES TO IMPOSE REASONABLE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT NO FACILITY SHALL BE HELD LIABLE FOR DAMAGES IN AN ACTION INVOLVING A LIABILITY CLAIM AGAINST SUCH FACILITY ARISING FROM THE FACILITY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Hale, Kinkade
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not specify the exact number of visitors allowed per day, only that at least two designated visitors are authorized for visitation.

Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act

This act prevents health care facilities licensed by or receiving a certificate of need from the Department of Health from limiting patients' ability to be visited by designated family members or friends during hospitalization, while allowing for reasonable safety requirements and providing immunity against liability claims.

What This Bill Does

Creates an act called the 'Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act'.
Requires health care facilities to allow patients to have visits from designated family members or friends during any hospitalization or treatment lasting more than 24 hours, including during public health emergencies.
Allows these facilities to set reasonable safety rules for visitors.
Protects the facilities from being sued if they follow this act's rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Health care facilities licensed by or receiving a certificate of need from the Department of Health.
Patients in hospitals and other health care facilities during hospitalization.
Designated family members or friends visiting patients.

Terms To Know

Certificate of Need: A document given by a government agency that allows a facility to start providing certain types of medical services.
Immunity: Protection from being sued or held responsible for something.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, but since it didn't pass, this date is no longer relevant.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 847 *HR43/R536* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R536
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

To: Public Health and Human
Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Hale, Kinkade

HOUSE BILL NO. 847

AN ACT TO CREATE THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY RIGHT TO VISIT ACT 1
TO PREVENT ALL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES THAT ARE LICENSED BY OR HAVE 2
RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF NEED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FROM 3
INSTITUTING ANY POLICY THAT LIMITS PATIENTS' ABILITIES TO BE 4
VISITED BY DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS DURING ANY 5
HOSPITALIZATION OR TREATMENT; TO ALLOW THE FACILITIES TO IMPOSE 6
REASONABLE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT NO FACILITY SHALL 7
BE HELD LIABLE FOR DAMAGES IN AN ACTION INVOLVING A LIABILITY 8
CLAIM AGAINST SUCH FACILITY ARISING FROM THE FACILITY'S COMPLIANCE 9
WITH THE ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited 12
as the "Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act." 13
(2) A long-term care facility, skilled nursing facility, 14
hospital, rehabilitation hospital, continuing care retirement 15
community or any other health care facility that is licensed by or 16
has received a certificate of need from the State Department of 17
Health shall not institute any policy that limits patients' 18
abilities to be visited by designated family members or friends 19
during any hospitalization or treatment that lasts for a period 20
exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, including during a declared 21
public health emergency. Such facilities shall not be prevented 22
H. B. No. 847 *HR43/R536* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R536
PAGE 2 (RF\KP)
ST: Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act;
create.
from imposing reasonable safety requirements relating to the 23
physical presence of such designated family members or friends in 24
the facility, provided that at least two (2) such designated 25
family members or friends are authorized for visitation of no less 26
than two (2) hours per day. 27
(3) No facility shall be held liable for damages in an 28
action involving a liability claim against such facility arising 29
from the facility's compliance with the provisions of this 30
section. 31
(4) The immunity set forth in subsection (3) of this section 32
shall be in addition to any other immunity protections that may 33
apply in state or federal law. 34
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 35
and after July 1, 2026. 36